INTRODUCTION. Metabolic activity of fat tissue underlines the metabolic syndrome witch is clearly associated with increased risk for coronary heart diseases. The aim of the study was to asses the prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome among obese patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. We examined 216 patients with obesity. We assessed measurements: weight, height, waist and hip circumference, free fat mass by using bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BODYSTAT 1500), blood pressure and lipid profile, plasma glucose and insulin level fasting and 2 hours post loaded 75 g of glucose, insulin resistance (IR) was quantified using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the NCEP ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria.
RESULTS. Mean BMI was 42,3 (± 7,4) kg/m². Metabolic syndrome was present among 131 (60,6%) individuals, and 70 (32,4%) meet 3 features, 53 (24,5%) with 4 and 8 (3,7%) with 5. Glucose abnormalities was higher in participants with metabolic syndrome (MS) among 560 (42,7%) patients vs. 7 (8,2%) without metabolic syndrome (WMS). The group with MS had statistically higher weight [117,3 (± 22,8) vs. 107,1 (± 19,5) kg; p = 0,001], waist circumference [120,7 (± 15,2) vs. 113,5 (± 14,9) cm; p = 0,001] and free fat mass [54,2 (± 15,3) vs. 48,9 (± 14,5) kg; p = 0,006)] also had the highest fasting levels of glucose [5,7 (± 1,7) vs. 4,8 (± 0,6) mmol/l; p = 0,00002], insulin [21,4 (± 17,1) vs. 16,0 (± 13,0) mIU/ml; p = 0,06] and HOMA-IR [5,7 (± 5,6) vs. 3,7 (± 3,1); p = 0,007]. Patients with SM had statistically higher level of total cholesterol [5,5 (± 0,9) vs. 5,1 (± 1,0) mmol/l; p = 0,004], triglycerides [2,1 (± 0,9) vs. 1,3 (± 0,5) mmol/l; p = 0,00000] and lower level of HDL-cholesterol [1,2 (± 0,5) vs. 1,4 (± 0,5) mmol/l; p = 0,001]. Systolic blood pressure was higher in MS group than WMS [141,9 (± 21,4) vs. 133,2 (± 22,0) mm Hg; p = 0,004].
CONCLUSIONS. The prevalence of metabolic abnormalities is very high among patients with morbid obesity. The number of components of metabolic syndrome increase with weight and waist circumference.